news Archives

Only 1 in 8 elementary teacher prep programs adequately teach math

May 22, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

$Teacher prep programs must increase the time they spend on fundamental math concepts to develop great math teachers.$

Only one in eight elementary teacher preparation programs nationwide devote enough time to teaching fundamental math content topics (numbers & operations, algebraic thinking, geometry & measurement, and data…

District Management

The cure for the school attendance crisis? Family support and a sense of belonging

May 21, 2025 by Dr. Shanna Downs, West Georgia RESA

The chronic absenteeism rate has increased post-pandemic--a clear indicator that the problem isn’t letting up any time soon.

Empty seats have become a common sight in our nation’s classrooms. Students are missing school at record-high rates--not because they don’t want to be there, but because significant…

Curriculum & Assessment

The clock is ticking: Why standardized schedules don’t work for learning

May 20, 2025 by George Philhower, Ed.D., Eastern Hancock Schools

Moving away from standardized learning schedules helps schools focus on learning and foster an immersive learning experience for students.

In education, we talk a lot about equity, personalization, and meeting students where they are. But we often ignore one fundamental truth: Learning takes time, and the time…

Emergency Planning & Response

Empowering school staff with emergency response protocols

May 16, 2025 by Laura Ascione

The right safety platform can help schools plan for emergencies, respond to crises, and accelerate emergency response protocols.

Safety response protocols are foundational to creating a culture of safety in schools. District leaders should adopt and implement response protocols that cover all types of emergencies.

District Management

At a grim time for math test scores, these districts buck the trend

May 15, 2025 by Steven Yoder, The Hechinger Report, Chalkbeat

$Higher achievement in 8th grade math is associated with higher income and more education, and in Tennessee, math test scores are encouraging.$

In early February, seventh grade math teacher Jamie Gallimore tried something new: She watched herself teach class. The idea had come from Ed Baker, district math coach at…

Classroom Management

Beyond grades: Helping families support students academically

May 14, 2025 by Jacob Bruno, NWEA

Families can help students recover academically if they understand how their child is doing and how they can support academic success.

Five years ago, the COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic, and we quickly retreated into our homes, shuttered schools, and socially isolated. The lasting effects of this isolation…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

The pros and cons of DEI in education

May 13, 2025 by Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Middle School and William Howard Taft University

Positive DEI efforts in education include thoughtful and inclusive implementation strategies that promote equity and inclusion for all.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become integral to educational institutions across the United States. DEI aims to foster environments where all students can thrive regardless of…

Curriculum & Assessment

How to integrate environmental concepts into every subject

May 14, 2025May 12, 2025 by Rachel Arbor, Gaia Scholastic

Weaving environmental literacy into learning starts by connecting students to nature and finding an entry point for each subject.

Key points: As a teacher and advocate for environmental education, I’ve seen students around the country feeling “eco-anxiety.” When I ... Read more

District Management

The dangers of attempting to ‘Instant Pot’ educational progress

May 8, 2025 by Christy Hovanetz, ExcelinEd

Right now, K-12 needs a little more tough love--stronger expectations, accountability and leadership for students and their progress.

States aren’t happy with how their students are doing--not well, by all objective measures--but instead of focusing in on long-term solutions, they’re lowering expectations and sweeping those academic…

Students with Special Needs

Meeting the rising demand for school-based speech and behavioral support

May 8, 2025 by Cheryl Haibach, Kelly Education

Adapting to the growing need for therapy services in schools requires innovation and flexibility--here's how to meet the demand.

As districts and schools nationwide struggle to find qualified therapists, particularly speech-language pathologists and board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), there’s a growing demand for these specialized professionals.

Curriculum & Assessment

The key to boosting math achievement? Neuroscience

May 6, 2025 by Laura Ascione

$School district leaders need a solution that targets what's really behind lagging math scores--and neuroscience may hold the answer.$

After results from the 2024 NAEP were released, it became evident that students are struggling with math achievement. Amid disappointing and stagnant scores, district leaders are looking for…

Teacher Professional Development

The math anxiety equation: How to solve for confidence in math class

May 5, 2025 by Brian Dean, UnboundEd

$To conquer math anxiety, we must first help students believe they are capable learners of mathematics--and that starts with the right PD.$

One of my first vivid memories of math is of timed tests. I still remember how visceral my panic felt--sweaty palms, heart pounding--as I scrambled to recall facts…

College and Career Readiness

A new kind of high school diploma trades chemistry for carpentry

May 1, 2025 by Ariel Gilreath, The Hechinger Report, Chalkbeat

Attitudes toward high school CTE courses--once thought of as classes for students who struggled--have improved significantly over the years.

In a corner of Huffman High School, the sounds of popping nail guns and whirring table saws fill the architecture and construction classroom.

AI in Education

The 5 dimensions of AI literacy

April 30, 2025 by Laura Ascione

The framework focuses on AI literacy for all, as well as specialized literacy that can be adapted to different disciplines and jurisdictions.

AI skills are evolving from a "nice to have" to a necessity for students who hope to enter the workforce as competitive prospective employees.

College and Career Readiness

How 3 districts reimagined high school and the future of work

April 29, 2025 by Laura Ascione

When districts implement student-driven learning and personalized pathways, high school students understand their strengths and aspirations.

If students are to graduate prepared to succeed as they pursue higher education or join the future-ready workforce, high schools must evolve--and innovative districts are ready to meet…

Digital Learning Tools

‘Too many apps for that’ in schools

April 28, 2025 by Laura Ascione

A survey of teachers, parents, and curriculum leaders points to necessary changes for apps and their management in schools districts.

A "patchwork of apps" in schools often leads to app fatigue, frustrating parents and educators who have to use multiple apps weekly, or even daily, according to new…

Teaching Trends

Beyond digital literacy: Why K-12 educators must prioritize data literacy

April 23, 2025 by Dr. Steve Baule & Dr. Joel J. Traver, Winona State University

Using digital tools does not mean students or educators possess data literacy or understand the quality, context, or implications of data.

While digital literacy has become an aspirational cornerstone of modern education, the exponential growth of data-driven decision-making across industries reveals critical gaps that demand a stronger focus on…

AI in Education

The human edge in the AI era

April 22, 2025 by Tara Chklovski, Technovation

Career survival now demands we continuously learn, embrace the discomfort of being beginners again, and boldly step into the AI unknown.

In the Future of Jobs 2025 report, the World Economic Forum predicts that 60 percent of jobs will require upskilling or retraining, or they'll be threatened. The skills we…

Student Well-Being

Growing challenges for school counselors impact student outcomes

April 21, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

A new survey of school counselors reveals increasingly heavy caseloads, rising mental health demands, and growing resource gaps.

Middle and high school counselors juggle overwhelming caseloads, expanded mental health duties, and additional administrative burdens--all of which limit their ability to provide individualized support for students.

AI in Education

Data shows growing GenAI adoption in K-12

April 18, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Educators and administrators remain optimistic about GenAI's potential and the positive impact it can have on K-12 learning.

Almost 3 in 5 K-12 educators (55 percent) have positive perceptions about GenAI, despite concerns and perceived risks in its adoption, according to updated data from Cengage Group's…

AI in Education

5 AI tools for classroom creativity

April 17, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Students can strengthen creativity skills and self-expression through engaging, AI-powered platforms in various subjects.

When it comes to visual creativity, AI tools let students design posters, presentations, and digital artwork effortlessly. Students can turn their ideas into professional-quality visuals, sparking creativity and…

College and Career Readiness

The power of goal setting: A skill for lifelong success

April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 by Phylicia Littleton, Pearson Virtual Schools

No matter the educational environment, clear goal setting helps students channel their energy in the right direction and outline objectives.

For students, the mid-year stretch is a chance to assess their learning, refine their decision-making skills, and build momentum for the opportunities ahead.

ELL

Virtual art meets language learning: A tech-enhanced ESL experience

April 14, 2025 by Nesren El-Baz, ESL Educator

Using virtual art with ELLs transforms language learning into a rich, human experience, using self-expression to enhance learning.

Art has a unique power in the ESL classroom--a magic that bridges cultures, ignites imagination, and breathes life into language. For English Language Learners (ELLs), it’s more than…

Student Data Security

Leadership is key to protecting student data privacy in 2025

April 14, 2025 by Linnette Attai, CoSN

For many school districts, successful implementation of a student data privacy program may require some form of organizational change.

In the year 2025, no one should have to be convinced that protecting data privacy matters. For education institutions, it’s really that simple of a priority--and that complicated.

Teacher Professional Development

Ethical PD: Doing right by the teachers who do right by the world

April 11, 2025 by Ben Talsma, Van Andel Institute for Education

Ethical PD is a philosophy that puts teachers and their needs front and center, for the benefit of students, communities, and the nation.

Teachers are superheroes. Every day, they rise to the challenge, pouring their hearts into shaping the future. They stay late to grade papers and show up early to…

District Management

Leading (again) in uncertainty

April 11, 2025 by Sean Slade, BTS Spark

In uncertain times for school leaders, success can be found in moving away from rigid hierarchies to more flexible approaches.

We are again in uncertain times. We again find ourselves dealing with sudden changes and uncertainty. We seem to be in a state of constant change and ambiguity.

Literacy

Offering books featuring favorite licensed characters can engage young readers

April 10, 2025 by Britten Follett

If a student selects his or her own book based on their own interests, they are much more likely to stay engaged with reading.

Holden, my 21-month-old, has fallen in love. His early morning snack and “couch time” includes a dose of “Tiger!” This is toddler for, “Mom, turn on Daniel Tiger’s…

ELL

6 ways to make math more accessible for multilingual learners

April 4, 2025 by Veronica Burnett, Accelerate Learning

$Using edtech tools and other supports, teachers can make math more meaningful and engaging for multilingual learners (MLs).$

Many math tasks involve reading, writing, speaking, and listening. These language demands can be particularly challenging for students whose primary language is not English.

Teaching Trends

Opportunities in failing: Why K-12 education needs more productive struggle

April 2, 2025 by Samuel M. Baule, U.S. Army & Marian University

Implementing failure in the classroom isn’t about making school harder--it’s about making learning more meaningful via productive struggle.

Throughout my education, I have always been frustrated by busy work--the kind of homework that felt like an obligatory exercise rather than a meaningful learning experience.

District Management

How will schools replace devices bought during the pandemic?

April 1, 2025 by Dennis Pierce

Edtech leaders are grappling with the question of replacing pandemic devices as millions of student devices near the end of their life cycle.

During the pandemic, thousands of school systems used emergency relief aid to buy laptops, Chromebooks, and other digital devices for students to use in remote learning.

Digital Learning Tools

How multimedia and interactive tech transform engagement

April 1, 2025 by Sam Bowman, Contributing Writer

The most successful edtech implementations prioritize pedagogy over technology, using multimedia and interactive tech to student engagement.

Education today looks dramatically different from classrooms of just a decade ago. Interactive technologies and multimedia tools now replace traditional textbooks and lectures, creating more dynamic and engaging…

AI in Education

Report details uneven AI use among teachers, principals

March 28, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Teachers most commonly reported using AI to generate lesson materials, assess students, and differentiate instruction.

English/language arts and science teachers were almost twice as likely to say they use AI tools compared to math teachers or elementary teachers of all subjects, according to…

COVID in Schools

Five years on: COVID’s impact on schools–and what’s next for education

March 27, 2025 by Dr. Megan Kuhfeld & Dr. Karyn Lewis, NWEA

Education's next 5 years will be crucial in determining whether we can prevent pandemic learning gaps from becoming permanent for students.

Five years ago this month, the World Health Organization officially labeled COVID-19 as a pandemic. In response, life as we knew it came to a halt, schools were…

Innovation in Education

What’s Next for DoEd

March 26, 2025 by Kevin Hogan

Innovations in Education: What’s Next for ED

It’s not often that I have trouble finding people to discuss the politics of public education. Of course, nothing is ... Read more

Teacher Professional Development

Elevating principals, teachers, and students through shared purpose and leadership

March 25, 2025 by Jacqueline K. Haynes, Charleston County School District

By narrowing the focus, transforming professional development and getting buy-in from stakeholders, low-performing schools can improve.

In Charleston County, South Carolina, a school turnaround initiative designed to enhance teaching and learning at 10 schools on the state’s improvement list has seen remarkable success.

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

The fight for educational equity in the face of federal rollbacks

March 24, 2025March 24, 2025 by Dr. Patricia Burch & Dr. Royel Johnson, USC Rossier School of Education

Now is the time for bold and decisive leadership and action in setting the course for more edtech equity in the education system.

The federal government’s latest move to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education is not just an ideological shift--it’s a direct threat to decades of progress in…

CoSN Corner

CoSN 2025: Humans in an AI world

March 21, 2025 by Laura Ascione

IT leaders, superintendents, and district teams are gathering in Seattle to explore the latest in innovative edtech and IT at CoSN 2025.

Like it or not, AI is evolving, and it is cementing its place in education. And the CoSN 2025 Conference is preparing attendees to meet the AI challenge…

Teacher Professional Development

Key questions that unleash powerful PLCs

March 18, 2025 by Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey, San Diego State University and Health Sciences High and Middle College

Transforming PLCs for educators means moving beyond ‘What do we teach?” to focus on ‘How do we teach it effectively?’

With today’s clear academic standards, PLCs no longer need to spend precious time deciding what to teach. Instead, they can focus on other questions, starting with, “Where are…

AI in Education

5 practical ways to integrate AI into high school science

March 18, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Thoughtful AI integration can help educators boost engagement and improve learning outcomes in the science classroom.

STEM learning is critical for all students, regardless of their postsecondary path, but by high school, engagement often drops and students lose interest in critical subject matters.

Teacher Well-Being

How rest can reignite your passion for teaching

March 13, 2025 by Dr. Ilana Nankin, Breathe For Change

Based on the ‘seven types of rest,’ these restorative practices can help mitigate teacher burnout and ultimately benefit your students.

Today’s teachers are coping with a wide range of stresses, from chronic student absenteeism to limitations on what you can teach and parents pressuring you to change grades.

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